Public Makaton training dates
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Public courses are open courses for anyone to attend
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Suitable for parents, carers & professionals or general interest
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In-person or Online options are available
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Highly experienced & established trainer across all sectors
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In-person public training courses are held in Weston super Mare
EASTER SALE NOW ON! ENTER CODE: EASTER15 for 15% off all courses
Early Years training IN-PERSON £60pp
Thursday 12th March 2026 - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/1895104 FULL
Saturday 28th March 2026 - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/1967535 FULL
Saturday 30th May 2026 - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/2006673
Early Years training ONLINE £60pp
Sunday 3rd May 2026 - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/2078544 FULL
Sunday 7th June 2026 - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/2078545
Level 1 training IN-PERSON £88pp
Carer discounts available
Friday 1oth July 2026 - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/1872310
Friday 11th September 2026 - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/2078552
Level 1 training ONLINE £88pp
Carer discounts available
Thursday 4th AND 11th June - BOTH DATES TO BE ATTENDED to complete Level 1
12:30pm - 4pm - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/2129373 - FULL
Tuesday 7th AND 14th July - BOTH DATES TO BE ATTENDED to complete Level 1
12:30pm - 4pm - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/2129373
Level 2 training IN-PERSON £88pp
Carer discounts available
Thursday 12th February 2026 - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/1872316 - FULL
Friday 2nd October 2026 - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/1872319
More dates coming soon! Get in touch if you are interested in this public course
but cannot find a suitable date
Level 3 training IN-PERSON £88pp
Carer discounts available
Wednesday 25th March 2026 - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/1884843 1 space
Friday 20th November 2026 - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/2122299
More dates coming soon! Get in touch if you are interested in this public course
but cannot find a suitable date
Level 4 training IN-PERSON £90pp
Carer discounts available
Weds 15th July 2026 - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/2146227
More dates coming soon! Get in touch if you are interested in this public course
but cannot find a suitable date
General Wellbeing - ONLINE £60pp
Sunday 8th March 2026 - 1pm - 4:30pm - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/1884812 FULL
Saturday 9th May 2026 - 10am - 1:30pm - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/1884821 FULL
Sunday 12th July 2026 - 11am - 2:30pm - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/1884949
More dates coming soon!
Nursing - ONLINE £60pp
Saturday 6th June 2026 - 1pm - 4:30pm - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/1884802
More dates coming soon! Get in touch if you are interested in this public course
but cannot find a suitable date
Learning Disability Team - ONLINE £60pp
Sat 28th February 2026 - 10am - 1:30pm - https://buytickets.at/alimakatontutor/1884771 FULL
More dates coming soon! Get in touch if you are interested in this public course
but cannot find a suitable date
Take a look below for descriptions on what each course covers
About Makaton for Early Years settings
Do you work with babies, toddlers or pre-school children?
Do you want to give every child the best possible start in communication?
Are you looking for practical tools you can use straight away to support children’s understanding and expression?
This 3.5-hour interactive workshop is designed for early years professionals who want to create calm, engaging and inclusive environments where all children can thrive. Makaton helps children connect, express themselves, and feel understood, even before they can speak.
Why this workshop matters
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Support early communication and language development
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Reduce frustration and help children express their needs
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Strengthen bonds between children, parents and practitioners
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Create an inclusive setting that supports every child’s communication
What will you learn?
This workshop gives you the confidence and tools to:
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Use Makaton signs and symbols alongside speech during daily routines and activities
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Support children's understanding and ability to make choices
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Embed signing into songs, stories, and play
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Involve parents, carers and other professionals in consistent communication support
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Create inclusive environments where all children can participate and belong
Workshop content
The session covers:
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How Makaton supports early communication and language development
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The communication journey and the importance of visual support
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Key signs and symbols for daily routines and play
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Practical strategies for embedding signing into everyday interactions
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Signing through stories, songs and group activities
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Real-life examples and practical exercises with support from your Tutor/Trainer
You'll also explore phrases commonly used in early years settings, such as:
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“Do you want a drink of milk or water?”
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“Are you feeling worried?”
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“Where are the bricks?”
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“Have you finished drawing?”
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“Which toy would you like?”
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“Great sitting and listening. Well done!”
Who is this for?
This workshop is ideal for anyone working with young children, including:
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Nursery and pre-school staff
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Early years teachers and SENCOs
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Childminders and family support workers
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Speech and language professionals
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Children’s centre staff and outreach teams
No previous experience with Makaton is needed.
How it works
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3.5-hour interactive session
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Delivered by a licensed Makaton Tutor/Trainer
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Includes official Makaton resources and certificate of attendance
About Makaton Level 1
Level 1 training is the starting point for learning Makaton. It is recommended for anyone with an interest in Makaton,.
Content
Level 1 training provides a practical introduction to the Makaton Communication Programme.
Sessions include discussing commonly asked questions, hints and tips for effective signing and symbol use and how to start using Makaton in everyday situations at home or work. You will also learn the signs and symbols from Stages 1 and 2, and some of the Additional stage, of the Core Vocabulary.
Duration
The Level 1 workshop training is made up of two modules which can be delivered in a number of different ways.
In-person workshop is typically covered in one full day of around 6 hours.
Online training for Level 1 takes a minimum of seven hours and can be delivered in two sessions.
Entry criteria
No previous Makaton experience is required.
Study materials
You will receive a Participant's Manual which includes the Makaton symbols and line drawings of the signs that you learn in the workshop. You will also be given a certificate of attendance. Please remember to keep your Level 1 training certificate in case you want to attend further Makaton training.
About Makaton Level 2
Level 2 training builds on the knowledge you gained in Level 1 training.
Content
You will learn the signs and symbols from Stages 3 and 4, and the rest of the Additional stage, of the Core Vocabulary.
Duration
Level 2 training is made up of two modules which can be delivered in a number of different ways.
In-person workshop is typically covered in one full day of around 6 hours.
Online training for Level 2 takes a minimum of seven hours and can be delivered in two sessions.
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1 full day or 2 x half days
Entry criteria
Participants must have attended Level 1 training.
Study materials
You will receive a Participant's Manual, which includes the Makaton symbols and signs that you learn in the workshop. You will also be given a certificate of attendance. Please remember to keep your Level 2 training certificate in case you want to attend further Makaton training.
About Makaton Level 3
Level 3 training helps you to improve and develop your signing and symbol skills and how to use them effectively every day.
You will revise the signs and symbols you learned in your Level 1 and 2 training, and learn the signs and symbols for Stages 5 and 6 of the Core Vocabulary.
Duration
The Level 3 workshop consists of two modules which can be delivered in a number of different ways.
In-person workshop is typically covered in one full day of around 6.5 hours.
Online training for Level 3 takes a minimum of seven hours and can be delivered in 2 sessions.
Entry criteria
Participants must have completed Level 2 training.
Study materials
For the Level 3 workshop you will receive a Participant’s Manual which includes the Makaton symbols and signs that you learn in the workshop.
For all the workshops you will be given a certificate of attendance. Please remember to keep your certificate in case you want to attend further Makaton training.
About Makaton Level 4
Level 4 completes the Core Vocabulary and develops your understanding and skills in using Makaton to support people with a wide range of communication difficulties.
You will revise the signs and symbols you learned in your Level 1, 2 and 3 workshops and learn the signs and symbols for Stages 7 and 8 of the Core Vocabulary.
Duration
The Level 4 workshop consists of two modules which can be delivered in a number of different ways.
In-person workshop is typically covered in one full day of around 7 hours.
Online training for Level 4 takes a minimum of seven hours and can be delivered in 2 - 4 sessions on one or more days, for example:
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1 full day (one session in the morning, one in the afternoon. (7.5 hours is recommended to allow plenty of time for lunch, and other breaks from the screen)
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2 x 3.5-4-hour sessions (different days)
Entry criteria
Participants must have completed Level 3 training.
Study materials
For the Level 4 workshop you will receive a Participant’s Manual which includes the Makaton symbols and signs that you learn in the workshop.
For all workshops you will be given a certificate of attendance. Please remember to keep your certificate in case you want to attend further Makaton training.
About Makaton For...' Workshops. Choose from:
Urgent and Emergency Care, General Wellbeing, Nursing, Dentistry, Emergency Services, Learning Disability Team
Elevate your communication skills
Imagine enhancing children's speech, language and communication skills in your Early Years setting. Perhaps you work in health & social care and would like to support patient health outcomes with stress-free appointments, reduced anxiety, and smoother engagements.
Our RANGE of 3.5 hour, tailored to specific roles Workshops empowers staff to support communication to suit individuals.
To help develop language and communication skills for babies and young children or to involve patients in their healthcare decisions, fostering collaboration to improve overall well-being and ensure everyone feels informed and engaged in their healthcare journey. Makaton is a communication programme that combines speech, signs and symbols to empower anyone living with learning or communication difficulties to understand and be understood.
These courses are also popular for those working within general Health & Social Care settings such as Supported living settings, with the Workshop for General Wellbeing being the most popular and relevant to roles supporting adults at home and in the community.
Makaton training enables your staff to connect confidently with people who have communication difficulties and needs. Training can offer ideas, advice, and guidance to improve your equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) strategies.
This workshop will empower participants to engage more effectively with individuals within your individual settings.
Bespoke training
Crafted in collaboration with experienced professionals specialising in learning and communication needs. Delivered in a flexible model to suit your needs with options for online or face-to-face sessions, our workshop offers:
Impactful Makaton Vocabulary: Enhance your capacity to communicate in both general and critical contexts.
Specialised Training: A 3 and a half hour robust session to unlock your team's communication potential designed to meet diverse communication needs and enhance you service's accessibility.
Key learning outcomes
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Proficient in everyday Makaton signs and symbols.
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Competent in specialist signs and symbols designed to improve understanding and reduce anxiety during appointments.
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Promote inclusion and awareness.
About 'Watch my needs' workshop
Watch My Needs is a workshop designed for adults who are beginning to experience difficulties with understanding and recall, after having good understanding, recall and use of language.
The Watch My Needs Workshop is for direct use with adults with memory difficulties, who should attend the workshop sessions with a supporter.
These can also be delivered in a care home setting with members of staff supporting adults.
This workshop focuses on the Makaton Core user at the centre of the programme, with the aims of promoting independence, gaining confidence in making choices and taking part in daily activities.
Duration
This workshop is delivered over 5 consecutive weeks, 90 minutes per session.
Entry criteria
No previous knowledge of Makaton needed
Study materials
You will receive a Participant’s Manual which includes the Makaton symbols and signs that you learn in the workshop.
For all workshops you will be given a certificate of attendance.